Caliph, Calif

KALIF, OF KHALIF, ( kal'if,) n. [Ar. kha laf, to succeed.] Originally, a succe or, vicar, deputy, or lieutenant, but afterwards applied chiefly to the succe ors of Mohammed in the supreme power. As representatives of the prophet Islam, the C. exercised a power which was primarily spiritual; and in theory, therefore, he claimed the obedience of all Mu ulmans. In practice the claim was soon disregarded; and the Fatimite caliphs of Africa, and the sovereigns of the Ommiad dynasty of Spain each profe ed to be the only legit i mate representatives of Mohammed, in opposition to the Abba ido caliphs of Bagdad. The latter caliphate reached its highest splendor under Haroun-al-Raschid, in the 9th century; but his division of the empire among his sons showed how completely the C. had lost sight of the spiritual theory of his office. For the last 200 years the appellation of C. has been swallowed up in Shah, Sultan, Emir, and other titles peculiar to the East.